Double Standard? The NHL Needs Response to Tim Stutzle's Dangerous Hit on Canucks Forward Nils Hoglander

Last night's game between the Vancouver Canucks and Ottawa Senators was a chippy one to say the least, with both teams combining for 63 penalty minutes and three of the seven goals coming on the powerplay.

In the first period, Canucks captain Quinn Hughes was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for boarding on a questionable hit on Ottawa Senators forward Josh Norris.

Hughes cross-checked Norris into the boards from behind, right on the numbers, and while thankfully the Senators forward was okay afterwards, returning a short while later, it did seem like he went down a bit easy.

Flash forward to late in the third period, where shortly after a fight between Dakota Joshua and Brady Tkachuk, there was a dangerous play involving Tim Stutzle of the Ottawa Senators and Vancouver's Nils Hoglander.

Hoglander was cutting in on a partial breakaway and got the shot off one-handed, but it was stopped by Linus Ullmark.

With Hoglander off balance and unknowing of what's coming, he's then shoved from behind on the numbers by Tim Stutzle, who falls on him in the process.

The Canucks forward got up and pushed Stutzle before the two engaged in a brief scrap, were separated by the officials and ushed off to the penalty box.

Nils Hoglander and Tim Stutzle were given two minutes for roughing, however the Canucks forward was given an extra roughing penalty, putting the Senators on the powerplay, which they scored on to cut their deficit to two goals.

Somehow, Tim Stutzle avoided a penalty for his shove from behind on Nils Hoglander, which is ridiculous, given that just two periods earlier, Quinn Hughes was ejected for boarding.

Thankfully, Hoglander is okay, but it's going to be interesting to see if the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety take a look at the play and give Stutzle some sort of discipline, even if it's just a fine.

It appears there is a double standard going on, Stuzle tried to injure Hoglander with a dirty and unnecessary hit.

While Quinn Hughes' check on Josh Norris was clearly way less severe and by accident.

The fact the officials did not throw Stutzle out of the game for his intent to injure on Hoglander is beyond comprehension.

The league needs to respond with supplemental discipline, as there is no room for plays like this in the game of hockey.